Similar levels of low-grade inflammation and arterial stiffness in masked and white-coat hypertension

Abstract

MHT and WCHT represent two states of equivalent subclinical vascular dysfunction reflected by hs-CRP and PWV. Moreover, MHT and WCHT are characterized by a higher degree of inflammatory activation and arterial stiffening compared with normotension and by a lesser degree compared with SHT. The association of 24-h BP with both hs-CRP and PWV underscores the dominant role of hemodynamic load on hypertensive damage progression.